Dec. 3, 2008

Carolina Statistics in PDF Format

The Tar Heels (5-0) got off to a quick start against Central Carolina Community College and scored a season-high 115 points, while only giving up 63 to the Cougars.

Sunday's victory was never really in doubt after the Tar Heels outscored the Cougars by 34 in the first half, shooting 7-12 from the three-point line.

The 21 points the Cougars scored were the fewest given up in the first half for this year's junior varsity team.

"I was definitely happy with how we came out," coach C.B. McGrath said. "Pre-game I said we had to come out with some energy."

"I thought everyone played really hard, and that is hard to do when you're up by such a large margin."

Van Hatchell led the Tar Heels in scoring with 20 points and steals with four. He also said that starting the game strong has been something the team has been working on all season.

"It was a big emphasis for us in the locker room because the past two games we have come out real slow and coach was unhappy about that," Hatchell said. "It has kind of always been our focus."

Last season's leading scorer Ford Tanner made his first appearance this year after recovering from a knee injury. He picked up three quick fouls in the first half and stayed in foul trouble throughout most of the game, but he still finished with eight points.

Coach McGrath said that Tanner hadn't practiced yet with the team this season, but he said that doctors cleared him to play over Thanksgiving break.

"We want to see how his knee reacts, and we'll get feedback because we're off for forty some days so if it's sore he's got to take care of that," McGrath said.

The Tar Heels have defeated their first five opponents by an average margin of 40 points per game. Their most recent contest against the Cougars was a season-high margin of 52 points.

The junior varsity team has more than a month off for the semester break, and they don't play again until Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. against Methodist in the Smith Center.